Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
Style
Orchestra
Singer
Author
Composer
Date
These Tangos, Valses, and Milongas were recorded around the same time. Take a look to discover what else this orchestra—or others—may have recorded during the same week or even on the exact same day.
Abranse las pulperías is a Tango written by Héctor Marcó and composed by Alfredo Attadía.
Abranse las pulperías tells a dark and gripping tale of betrayal, vengeance, and the harsh realities faced by an individual known as “el chino Palma”. It revolves around his emotional turmoil after being betrayed and his subsequent quest for retribution, which leads him to a path from which he might not return. The anguish and burden of this betrayal are expressed through his demand for strong liquor to soothe his tormented soul before facing potential incarceration or even death. The lyrics poignantly narrate his final moments at the pulperías, local drinking spots, as he prepares for the inevitable confrontation with law enforcement officers.
The potent imagery of darkness, a stained dagger, and a soul marked by betrayal in Abranse las pulperías symbolically reflect the internal and external struggles of “el chino Palma”. The “sentencia en el alma” (sentence in the soul) emphasizes the irreversibility of his emotional state, conveying a deep-set sense of doom. The repeated plea, “Traigan caña, mucha caña”, illustrates his attempt to drown his sorrows and pain in alcohol, which is symbolic of his desire to escape or momentarily suspend his troubled existence. At the same time, “una cruz clava en mi pecho” (a cross nailed in my chest) and references to the devil establish a religious or fatalistic dimension, suggesting that Palma feels crucified by his fate.
The tango was recorded in Argentina, a country where Tango music often explores themes of love, betrayal, and death. By 1952, Tango music was deeply imbedded in Argentine culture but was also evolving, reflecting societal changes post-World War II. The imagery of military or “milicos” and rural locales like “cantón” in the lyrics indicate a setting deeply connected to the Argentine countryside or the outskirts, where laws and personal grudges often intertwined. The mention of these elements gives the song an authentic rural Argentine feel, a reflection of the tumultuous life in isolated communities.
Héctor Marcó was a notable tango lyricist whose work often painted vivid pictures of life’s struggles and emotional depths.